Building Champions from the Ground Up: The Maple Basketball Way

At Maple Basketball, we always start new teams at the A (Single A) level, regardless of how talented the roster may be. We do this for one important reason: For a NEW team to compete at the higher divisions right away, we’d have to focus immediately on advanced defensive systems such as pressing and press breaks, which would force us to skip over essential fundamentals like proper spacing, passing, movement, and decision-making. While that might bring short-term success, it would come at the cost of long-term player development. Skipping these foundational lessons limits a player’s effectiveness later on—especially at the U14 level and beyond, when pressing becomes less effective and the game shifts back to half-court play where true fundamentals matter most.

Despite starting at the A level, for many teams this is only temporary. Ontario Basketball re-ranks teams three times per season, giving every team the opportunity to move up based on their progress. For example, a team that begins in Division 18 out of 20 can move up with each re-rank, depending on outcomes of the game. We’ve seen teams that started in Division 18 finish as high as Division 6 by the end of the year. Our 2008 Boys team is a perfect example—they began at the Single A level and, through steady development, finished #4 in Ontario just four years later. Had we skipped those early foundational steps, that same team likely would have plateaued around the AA level, never breaking past Division 8 or a #48 ranking.

At Maple, we believe starting from the bottom helps you go higher in the long run. No shortcuts. No rushing. Just steady progress.

👉 Start with fundamentals. 👉 Build great habits. 👉 Grow together as a team.

That’s how champions are made. 🍁 ------------------------------------------- Understanding the OBL Ranking System

In Ontario Basketball, teams compete within the Ontario Basketball League (OBL), which organizes programs into multiple competitive tiers based on performance. Rankings are fluid—teams can move up or down depending on their development and results throughout the season.

Here’s a general breakdown when there are about 20 divisions and roughly 180 teams in an age group:

• 🏆 Provincial (Top 8 Teams in Ontario)These are the elite teams across the province competing for the Provincial Championship.
  

• 💥 OBLX The top-tier league divisions just below Provincial, featuring Ontario’s strongest club teams.

• 🔺 AAA Level (Divisions 1–6) Highly competitive teams that demonstrate strong fundamentals, strategy, and team play.

• 🔹 AA Level (Divisions 7–12) Competitive developing teams that are closing the gap on elite competition.

• 🔸 A (Single A) Level (Divisions 13–20) Developmental divisions where most new teams begin. This is where players learn to play the game the right way—building skills, chemistry, and confidence before moving up.
  

Teams are re-ranked three times per season based on their performance and development. That means a team starting at the A level could, with growth and commitment, rise through AA, AAA, and even into OBLX or Provincial status over time.